VALLEY CENTER — Law enforcement has arrested a man suspected of assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism, and child abuse following numerous tips from members of the public, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office reported on Tuesday.
On Nov. 5, around 4:30 p.m., an unknown suspect confronted two juveniles at a pond near the intersection of Valley Center Road and Irish Oaks Road in Valley Center, according to authorities. The suspect brandished a knife and chased the juveniles.
The man also destroyed a fishing pole and slashed four tires on a vehicle belonging to the victims. The total property damage is estimated at approximately $1,300.
During the incident, the suspect identified himself as “Hector Zeroni,” a fictional character in the 2003 film, “Holes.”
Following the incident, law enforcement shared photos of the suspect and asked for the public’s help in finding and identifying the man.
Using leads from community sources shared with Crime Stoppers, law enforcement arrested the suspect, 27-year-old Jaymes Martinez, on Tuesday. He was charged with two counts of displaying a weapon in a threatening manner and one count of vandalism.
The Sheriff’s Office thanked the community for its help.
“The San Diego Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public for the numerous tips that were received, which ultimately assisted investigators in positively identifying Martinez as the suspect,” the Sheriff’s Department said.
